That works for me Rick. I understand folks want newer seed, but honestly, some things in my garden are 4 years old and I've got zero germination problems with it. Older seed just might need a few more planted is all. I can do that. After all, I love my garden.

Thanks.

I find that the main factor in germination is the nut behind the watering can. In early years, I had entire trays of seeds fail to germinate. Not so much, any more.

I guess seed vendors improved their quality greatly at the same time I learned how to start seeds! ;-)

I know you know this already, Rick, but you don't have to worry about old seeds for me, I'm all for giving those old seeds a shot.

I also didn't know while packing the seeds whether my trade item said "2013" or "2016". So when in doubt, both!

Hopefully anyone who goes through their bag and sees "2013" or "2011" first, will have seen this thread and kept looking until they find the 2016 pkt.

Hon, your seeds are just fine. You have a generous heart and that alone will carry your seeds into seedlings. Remember this. ... Sweden ( I think it's Sweden ) holds a vast vault of seeds much older than yours. Those seeds will enable us to start again if needed. Yours are going to be terrific. I promise. Sometimes folks take this seed date a bit too far.

Or you can see it from my eyes. I have none of these seeds. If what I receive only makes one plant, I have had a good meal, I've had something beautiful to raise and enjoy AND you've given me more seeds to plant the next year.

Half way packing my seeds other half will be finished tomorrow!! Then shipped Thursday morning at the latest.

Thank you, Karen!

Yes, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is my hero:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...




(I'm not sure this photo is of Svalbard, but this is how I picture the insides.

Here's a link to make you feel better https://showmeoz.wordpress.com...

You know, I knew why the seed bank was started but I didn't realize that it is actually used for these countries that have had natural disasters and those that have been torn apart by civil war. Very informative article. Thank you.

Agriculture , can start wars in such conditions , and can be devastated ,,It really began as it is because of the world depression , Free seeds to impoverished caused complaints from companies , because it was all costing to much to make seeds , and to difficult to sell
The worth everything , and worth nothing economically . Has ruined Agriculture many times , and kept wars going longer ,

Besides , even mud fields for weed eaters like me , makes life rough , Concrete civilization makes that a nightmare , but I love concrete and cement ,, Gooooofeeeeyyyyy

KarenHolt said:Here's a link to make you feel better https://showmeoz.wordpress.com...

Thanks, Karin. That's around what I thought for most Brassicas, and it confirmed that lettuce seeds tend not to last as long.

RickCorey said:

Thanks, Karin. That's around what I thought for most Brassicas, and it confirmed that lettuce seeds tend not to last as long.

You may want to consider mylar bags in the future if you want to save lettuce seeds for awhile. I have to confess, I haven't read the article yet, so I'm not sure what you are considering 'not as long'...but I have a survival kit that uses mylar packaging and guarantees the lettuce seeds--and all of the seeds in it--for a minimum of 5 years. As a result, I've considered purchasing and using mylar packaging myself, although I have yet to see how expensive that is or isn't. It's possible it isn't worth it.

I rely on silica gel instead of super-tight packaging. I think the Mylar foil would have to be heat-sealed to be as good as a Mason jar. I've never understood how seed collections deal with humidity released, and oxygen consumed, in tightly sealed containers. I guess they get them cold and dry enough that metabolism is negligible.

Besides, I really like lettuce since one ounce packets get very cheap at year-end sales. And one gram of lettuce seed is a LOT of lettuce! Like 800 seeds per gram.

Actually, since my first jar of silica gel ran out, I've been lazy about recharging my desiccant packets ... my tubs are in equilibrium with the living room air.

Looking at the seed vault photo's reminds me of the times ,from the beginning of looking at all the different types of plants ,
It is still nice , but it was kind of like the phrases about love , it is never the same as the first ,
The better meanings of that , ( for some it might be a wrong Oh thank goodness )
But ,then I start thinking about what might be in all those tubs of vaulted seeds ,, oh me , oh my , my mind goes to crime ,, how to get all those !!!
Mine , Mine , Mine , All Mine

Jim, you're a rascal!

Before you buy a plane ticket to Norway, let me mention that I DID read somewhere that they have security on that vault!

I guess other wistful seedy folks have shown up in the past with big backpacks, a gleam in their eyes, and implausible stories about why they should be allowed to wander the seed vault unattended.

Or their Cyber Security division detected metrying to hack into their security plans.

I mean they detected SOMEONE trying to hack their security plans! Someone ELSE! It wasn't me, really!

So I was trying to get my pots in the sunniest part of the yard to winter sow...setup pots....no dirt!!



Then I decided to look at the blank yard. All rock...no green...so I measured



Then I grab paper and pencil....



Now awaiting approval from father-in-law.... (we live with him)

Maybe it's a good thing the community garden people decided not to give me the plot I needed. He doesn't know it yet but I have plans for the rest of the yard and the front yard too!!

Here's to good luck!!

That's something I always wondered about WS. Doesn't putting a container with a clear lid in a bright, sunny spot cook the seeds on the first really sunny day?

Maybe milk jugs are cloudy enough to keep the extra heat out?

The one time I tried WS, I put them in full shade (under a porch roof). If I was going to put my clear-lid containers in the sun, I would vent them well.

But I have almost no WS experience, just fears.

I planted poppies and more mustard today , I vent the jugs when it starts to warm up ,, ( i take the lids off ) jugs are like water jugs , they won't get that warm until summer ,,

Rick Your scanning their security systems and I am the Rascal uh , huh ,

Okay technocrat , How about this The fourteen forms of electricity , including tesla , This as an atomic weight translater of static using the Mit Calculater that as a robot armature with ic boards and a view screen attached ,, This will translate static from any system on the planet , Without breaking into or attacking the systems , it simply translates static using the Atomic weight base of the static and the planets elctroparticulates of nature , to gain and collect information ,
There ) How to steal information from any electronic system on this planet , ( or should i say , free Borrow )

Rick and jim, ya'll are too funny. If I could figure out a way, those seeds would be ours!

As for the winter sowing, the jugs act like act green houses so yes, they need plenty of ventilation. Enough to let the air in but let the jug sweat so you really don't have to water. There are times you will have to though. Cheryl are the pots and boxes your containers for winter sowing?

@DogsNDaylilies just wondering if you received my batch of seeds remitted? Thanks.